Senior Cody Lee Nominated for Allstate Good Works Team

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  Defiance College senior football player Cody Lee (Tampa, Fla./Jefferson) is one of 197 student-athletes from various schools comprised of Division I, II, III and NAIA institutions to be nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.  He is one of four players from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference to be nominated.  

Below is an excerpt of the offical press release:

Allstate Insurance Company and the AFCA announced an all-time high 197 nominees for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, the most esteemed off the field honor in college football.  For 24 years, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has recognized college football players from across the country who exemplify a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism.

Since its inception in 1992, the award highlights the "good" taking place off the football field. The select group of student-athletes nominated for this award by their respective colleges and universities are able to balance academics and athletics while remaining committed to helping others and bettering their communities. 

"For the third year in a row, we have received a record-breaking number of Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees, an indication that the bar continues to be raised for the character on display in college football," said Jim Haskins, Executive Vice President, Allstate Brand Distribution and a member of the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "Allstate is proud to join the AFCA in recognizing this amazing group of student-athletes for the positive impact they are making on their communities."

While remarkable on the field performances are praised each weekend, these individuals' off the field accomplishments far exceed touchdowns and tackles. From traveling overseas to support third-world countries to raising thousands of dollars for kidney cancer research, these remarkable student-athletes have utilized their minimal free time in an impactful way, earning them national recognition.

"It's very rewarding to see another record-setting year of nominees for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®," AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff said. "With Allstate's help, this has become one of the most prestigious awards in college football, and one of the most important because it highlights some of the best student-athletes in the country who not only excel on the football field, but in their community service as well."

Comprised of 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA, the final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September. From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select the 2015 Good Works Team.® 

The 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Bruce Feldman (Fox Sports),  Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and University of Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville; 1987 AFCA President and former head coach at Brigham Young University LaVell Edwards; and Jim Haskins, Executive Vice President, Allstate Brand Distribution.

Once the final team members are announced in September, fans are encouraged to visit the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®website on ESPN.com, featuring profiles and images of the players, for the opportunity to vote for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.

About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field.  AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need.  Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

The SEC leads all conferences with 62 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Big 12 Conference with 47 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. Georgia is in first place with 15 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. ® The Bulldogs are followed by Nebraska with 14 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively.

About the AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."